I think Selvie starts

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

If you really think about it, our biggest need is going to be 3tech. I'm not so on board with bringing Ware back but it's going to happen so it's not worth debate. Selvie, statistically, had a good year for defensive ends, not just for his name. Was it mind blowing? No but you can't have JJ Watt at every position. Broaddus seems very unimpressed with the ends this year and we're low on the cap. I think with another year in the system Selvie could rack up 7-9 sacks next year which is plenty serviceable. He has great work ethic too, so it may be worth letting him prove himself again. I for one won't be pissed if he starts

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Everybody says our biggest need will be 3-tech, but think about this... Hatcher was our 3-tech this year and he was probably the best in the NFL. He had double digit sacks and missed a few games. That's unheard of for a 4-3 DT. And 1-techs usually aren't the different between a great and a horrible D-line. My point is, even with Ware and Selvie starting, an excellent 3-tech in Hatcher, a healthy Sean Lee, etc, we were still one of the worst defenses in the NFL. And odds are, if we release Hatcher and draft his replacement, no rookie coming out of the draft will have the same production that Hatcher had this year.

 

[TrailBlazer]

If you really think about it, our biggest need is going to be 3tech. I'm not so on board with bringing Ware back but it's going to happen so it's not worth debate. Selvie, statistically, had a good year for defensive ends, not just for his name. Was it mind blowing? No but you can't have JJ Watt at every position. Broaddus seems very unimpressed with the ends this year and we're low on the cap. I think with another year in the system Selvie could rack up 7-9 sacks next year which is plenty serviceable. He has great work ethic too, so it may be worth letting him prove himself again. I for one won't be pissed if he starts

I wouldn't be pissed either. In fact, I would like it. The man earned a spot and played hard every snap. Imagine what our dlines production minus selvie would be. Behind hatcher, he was our most productive dlineman. It sets a good example for young guys who haven't made a name for themselves yet.

 

[TheStar]

Unfortunately you are right.....Guys who can't play anywhere else start on bad teams. So he starts.

 

[Aven8]

Selvie actually reminded me of Greg Ellis. Good but not great. But at least healthy! You can add in Hayden.

 

[JBS]

Everybody says our biggest need will be 3-tech, but think about this... Hatcher was our 3-tech this year and he was probably the best in the NFL. He had double digit sacks and missed a few games. That's unheard of for a 4-3 DT. And 1-techs usually aren't the different between a great and a horrible D-line. My point is, even with Ware and Selvie starting, an excellent 3-tech in Hatcher, a healthy Sean Lee, etc, we were still one of the worst defenses in the NFL. And odds are, if we release Hatcher and draft his replacement, no rookie coming out of the draft will have the same production that Hatcher had this year.

Correct. Ware sucked. So you have to hope he gets back to form. All of our LBs sucked too-except for Lee. So you need to either get a new LB or hope somebody improves - Carter/Holloman. The secondary was horrendous - can Carr play better? Can the lightbulb go off for Claiborne? Same with the young safeties.

Waaaaaay more questions than answers on defense.

 

[Tabascocat]

The only way Selvie doesn't start is of Dallas drafts a DE very high in the draft, most likely a first pick. There are too many holes to replace and Selvie isn't one of them for the time being.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Correct. Ware sucked. So you have to hope he gets back to form. All of our LBs sucked too-except for Lee. So you need to either get a new LB or hope somebody improves - Carter/Holloman. The secondary was horrendous - can Carr play better? Can the lightbulb go off for Claiborne? Same with the young safeties.

Waaaaaay more questions than answers on defense.

Yea, I agree. That's the thing. A lot of people are acting like our #1 need is a 3-tech DT. But even if we drafted the best 3-tech in the draft, he most likely won't have a better season than Hatcher had.

 

[texbumthelife]

Everybody says our biggest need will be 3-tech, but think about this... Hatcher was our 3-tech this year and he was probably the best in the NFL. He had double digit sacks and missed a few games. That's unheard of for a 4-3 DT. And 1-techs usually aren't the different between a great and a horrible D-line. My point is, even with Ware and Selvie starting, an excellent 3-tech in Hatcher, a healthy Sean Lee, etc, we were still one of the worst defenses in the NFL. And odds are, if we release Hatcher and draft his replacement, no rookie coming out of the draft will have the same production that Hatcher had this year.

Our biggest need is real depth on the DL, period. Hatcher was an absolute beast, but faded tremendously and was a complete non-factor the last month of the season. Ware and Selvie didn't get it don't in December. All of these guys are deserving of starting roles, but in todays NFL, you need depth to keep guys fresh and healthy. This DL needs an infusion at every single position.

 

[Proximo]

If you really think about it, our biggest need is going to be 3tech. I'm not so on board with bringing Ware back but it's going to happen so it's not worth debate. Selvie, statistically, had a good year for defensive ends, not just for his name. Was it mind blowing? No but you can't have JJ Watt at every position. Broaddus seems very unimpressed with the ends this year and we're low on the cap. I think with another year in the system Selvie could rack up 7-9 sacks next year which is plenty serviceable. He has great work ethic too, so it may be worth letting him prove himself again. I for one won't be pissed if he starts

I agree about Selvie; he's far from our biggest problem, and at the very least is a serviceable defensive end.

Our problem is depth on the D line. We have none. We projected Ware-Hatcher-Ratliff-Spencer as starters, and literally got zero from 2/4, and the other 2 each missed time due to injury as well. So we're behind the 8 ball from the get go. Add in the fact that we then lost 2 guys that were supposed to be part of the rotation (as we know Marinelli likes to keep fresh legs) - Bass & Crawford, we had to dig even deeper and ended up giving significant playing time to guys that would of otherwise been on the street or buried on the depth chart.

So it's not just one spot, or one starter, it's the overall D-line depth that needs improved, especially in this scheme where it's been stated that a significant rotation is going to be in place by the coaches.

 

[frickster]

I agree about Selvie; he's far from our biggest problem, and at the very least is a serviceable defensive end.

Our problem is depth on the D line. We have none. We projected Ware-Hatcher-Ratliff-Spencer as starters, and literally got zero from 2/4, and the other 2 each missed time due to injury as well. So we're behind the 8 ball from the get go. Add in the fact that we then lost 2 guys that were supposed to be part of the rotation (as we know Marinelli likes to keep fresh legs) - Bass & Crawford, we had to dig even deeper and ended up giving significant playing time to guys that would of otherwise been on the street or buried on the depth chart.

So it's not just one spot, or one starter, it's the overall D-line depth that needs improved, especially in this scheme where it's been stated that a significant rotation is going to be in place by the coaches.

Took the words out of my mouth. You need good defensive tackles. We didn't get production out of the slew of free agents that we had to sign during the season. We need to be lucky in the draft this year.

 

[Proximo]

Took the words out of my mouth. You need good defensive tackles. We didn't get production out of the slew of free agents that we had to sign during the season. We need to be lucky in the draft this year.

Yes, we definitely need luck to be on our side in the draft this year. We also need a few players to come back strong from injuries and be difference makers (Bass, Crawford). Spencer's going to be a bit of a wild card; either he needs to come back strong too, or he ends up being another hole that needs filled entirely. And Ware, people need to accept that like it or not he's coming back. So we need him to come back in 2014 and look more like he did in 2011 (I hope it's possible).

We have a lot of moving parts on the D-line right now. One big name isn't the solution for us. We need depth, a good draft, and we need young guys and guys that were out due to injuries to come back stronger next year and prove themselves.

 

[Lonestar94]

If we had 52 Selvie's we'd win the Super Bowl . I say keep him as starter l

 

[big dog cowboy]

I like him as a starter but love him in a heavy DE rotation.

 

[Redball Express]

If you really think about it, our biggest need is going to be 3tech. I'm not so on board with bringing Ware back but it's going to happen so it's not worth debate. Selvie, statistically, had a good year for defensive ends, not just for his name. Was it mind blowing? No but you can't have JJ Watt at every position. Broaddus seems very unimpressed with the ends this year and we're low on the cap. I think with another year in the system Selvie could rack up 7-9 sacks next year which is plenty serviceable. He has great work ethic too, so it may be worth letting him prove himself again. I for one won't be pissed if he starts

Me?

I liked Selvie immediately when he came.

I sort of thought as the season wore on he tired.

Heck..he didn't get much help did he?

So I'm hopeful with him.

Easily he's in the starting rotation at the position.

 

[Fredd]

I like him as a starter but love him in a heavy DE rotation.

absolutely this. If the DL can be fashioned that guys like Selvie can come in and use that motor for 1 play out of 3, then this DL becomes much better...but, keeping a guy like Selvie playing 3 downs because of need means that he wears (or Ware's) down...we need a solid rotation with a couple of guys at the top wreaking havoc and tiring the opposing OL so the selvie's of the world can be more productive

selvie has earned a spot on this team, I am just not sure if that means a starting DE

 

[morasp]

I thought he was a good starter for us. Got pressure made plays against the run that got us off the field. Overall he was a disruptive force.

If we don't resign Hatcher we need someone that can come in and replace him.

I guess we need more depth at linebacker if three of our top four are going to get injured again.

They need to cut Ware and bring in a couple guys like Seattle did for the same price.

I didn't mind the CB play when they were healthy but they need to bring in someone to compete with Webb.

At safety Church is good but we need a second one and that really hurt us this year. Doesn't sound like Jerry puts much importance on safety so I guess they'll just hope for improvement from the guys we have.

 

[Cumart21]

I'm ok with the LB and secondary on this team for next year, considering the lack of cap room and deficiencies on the DL. If you look at the top defenses in the league, they are able to consistently get pressure with their front 4 which is exactly what makes them top defenses.

-Pressure on the QB makes your secondary look better
-Getting pressure from your front 4 frees up your LB to make plays

The Cowboys need to use any resources they have to accumulate talent and depth on the Defensive Line. Yes, Selvie will be one piece of this puzzle.

 

[Seven]

I'm on the fence with this dude. The bar is so low that one couldn't critique him fairly at this point.

I do think he'd be a real good set of fresh, rotational legs. Jimmie Jones/Tony Tolbert sorta thing?

 

[jobberone]

Everybody says our biggest need will be 3-tech, but think about this... Hatcher was our 3-tech this year and he was probably the best in the NFL. He had double digit sacks and missed a few games. That's unheard of for a 4-3 DT. And 1-techs usually aren't the different between a great and a horrible D-line. My point is, even with Ware and Selvie starting, an excellent 3-tech in Hatcher, a healthy Sean Lee, etc, we were still one of the worst defenses in the NFL. And odds are, if we release Hatcher and draft his replacement, no rookie coming out of the draft will have the same production that Hatcher had this year.

Our pressure up front with the early front seven wasn't bad. It degraded as time passed and injuries mounted. But I'm all on board with the philosophy of rush from all points and the reverse of that. I think Selvie is serviceable. I'd prefer another pass rusher or four.